CanSat Launcher

After the successful launch campaign of HEROS, which was part of the DLR STERN-Project, HyEnD subsequently started working on another project. The CanSat Launcher allowed us to gain deep insights into the process involved in building a rocket and reaching the mission objective of successfully deploying a CanSat payload at an altitude of approximately 450 metres. The CanSat itself was designed and built by another student group, named KSat. New HyEnD members learned to design, build and launch a rocket, gaining experience crucial for ambitious future HyEnD projects. Since January 2017, HyEnD members have discussed many different options for the structure of the hull, the recovery system, the electronics hardware needed for the pyro charge deployments, and of course the engine. After evaluating many different options, students have chosen the most suitable design for the task at hand.

CanSat Launcher Maiden Launch

For the first time in HyEnD history, a solid motor was used to ensure as little downtime as possible. All parts, including the drogue and main chutes, were produced either at the HyEnD facility at the University of Stuttgart, or the DLR in Lampoldshausen, and then thoroughly tested to ensure that everything works satisfactory. The brain of the rocket is once again the TeleMega microcontroller, responsible for deploying all pyro charges. Also, a Cortex M3 microcontroller with an IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) and a SD DataLogger are part of the electronics system. These components were programmed to take measurements at high rates and calculate height, velocity and orientation of the rocket. In the long term, this data will be analyzed and used to come up with the software needed to guide the rocket on a set trajectory. The CanSat Launcher's maiden launch was on November 15th, 2017. It successfully propelled a CanSat made by student team KSat to an altitude of 453m, where it was ejected. The recovery system worked flawlessly and the rocket is ready to be launched again. We are currently analysing the data recorded by our on-board electronics.

Interactive Subsystem Breakdown

Subsystems

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Electronics

The CanSat-Launcher’s recovery system is controlled by a commercial TeleMega flight computer. This device records flight data and sends it to our ground station. To assure a safe deployment of our parachutes, it uses GPS and Kalman-filtered pressure, acceleration, rotation and magnetic field data. A second magnetometer controlled computer is connected to our pyro-charges for redundancy purposes. In addition, a self-built system using a microcontroller and several sensors records data to a SD-Card for post-flight analysis. Both systems are located in the nose cone of the rocket.

Frontal view of the electronics module

Recovery System

The rocket is recovered using a dual-stage recovery system, consisting of a small drogue and a bigger main parachute. The drogue chute is deployed using a mortar-like ejector, allowing for a quick and controlled deployment. Nitrocellulose is used as an explosive. We protect the drogue chute from the explosive forces by encapsulating it between two pieces of PVC. At an altitude of about 100m, the main parachute system is activated.

Drogue ejection module after assembly

The main parachute is packed in a deployment bag, installed in a CFRP bay. At activation, the door holding the bay closed is released. Both the door and the main chute, which are connected to the drogue chute, will subsequently be pulled away from the rocket, thus allowing a safe descent.

Both the main and the drogue parachute were sewn by our members using nylon materials and kevlar cord.

CanSat Deployment

The CanSat Launcher can carry any payloads the size of a soda can or smaller. The payload bay is covered by a door, which is released upon deployment at apogee by cutting a rope via pyro charges. The CanSat will subsequently fall out of the rocket, thanks to the effects of gravity as well as foam place underneath it.

CFRP payload bay (with sample CanSat)

The payload for the maiden flight is a CanSat developed by student group KSat. The sattelite carries experimental electronics and has its own recovery system.

BC-360 Solid Motor

For the CanSat Launcher, we decided to use a commercially available solid rocket motor. This allowed us to focus our efforts on the development of the other subsystems. The BC-360 uses a combination of nitrocellulose and nitroglycerin as propellant, allowing for a thrust of about 250N over a duration of 1.5s. The BC-360 was designed for rockets with a mass of about 3kg, making it a viable option for this project.